Ratchet-pawl retaining structure



May 8, 1951 P. P. HALE RATCHET-PAWL RETAINING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 1, 1948 I N V EN TOR 66/2 40 1? #0/9 E W W fl/mflraz Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT OFFKCE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ratchet wrench.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide a ratchet wrench which permits a complete rotation of the wrench jaw even though the jaw may be of the open sided slip on type.

Second, to provide a ratchet wrench in which the wrench jaw is rotatably supported by a plurality of ratchet clutch members thereby minimizing wear on the ratchet teeth.

Third, to provide a ratchet wrench having these advantages in which the jaw member may be rotated freely in one direction and at the same time is securely held against rotation in the opposite direction.

Fourth, to provide a ratchet wrench having these advantages which may be very economical- 1y produced.

Further objects relating to details and economics of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a wrench embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section on a line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on a line corresponding to the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is an enlarged perspective view of one of the ratchet clutch members and its spring.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a forked head bod member I provided with an integral handle 2. These parts may be formed as a for ing or stamping.

The head body member i is provided with a cylindrically curved jaw opening 3, the inner peripheral wall of which is provided with a series of angularly spaced notch-like recesses 6 having inclined bottoms These recesses have flat ends 6 which serve as supporting abutments for the coil springs "l which urge the wedge shaped ratchet clutch members 9 upon the inclined bottoms 5.

The jaw head provided with side plates H! which project inwardly beyond the inner periphery of the head body member. These side plates are fixedly secured. by means of the screws H which are tapped into one plate and disposed through bores iii in the other, these bores being provided with countersinks for the screw heads.

The wrench jaw is is shouldered or rabbeted 2 on each side to provide a central peripheral portion 14 which has relatively shallow V-shaped teeth l5 extending entirely across the periphery thereof.

The clutch members a are provided with coacting V-shaped teeth IS. These shallow V-shaped teeth readily permit the ratchet action, that is, the teeth slide over each othe when the wrench jaw is rotated clockwise. When the wrench head is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, the ratchet clutch members engage the teeth of the jaw member and slide up the inclined seats 5 into clutching supporting engagement with the wrench jaw. Th springs insure the engagement of the ratchet members with the teeth of the wrench jaw.

In the embodiment illustrated the ratchet jaw members are provided with bores l l receiving the loop-like arms is on the inner end coils of the springs (see dotted lines in Figs. l and 2) thereby connecting the springs to the ratchet clutch members for convenience in assembling and keeping them in position when assembled.

The plates I l are provided with recesses E9 on their inner sides receiving the projecting sides of the ratchet clutch members 9 which are of greater width than the peripheral portion of the wrench jaw. This retains the ratchet members when the opening in the jaw registers therewith.

The diameter of the wrench jaw is substantially less than the diameter of the opening in the wrench head body member so that the wrench jaw is floatingly supported by the ratchet clutch members and its teeth do not come into wearing engagement with the head. At the same time, the jaw i3 is eiiectively held when the handle is operated clockwise, as viewed from Fig. 2, to grip the jaw. Of course, the opposite would be true if the wrench were turned over.

The screws l i are positioned to efiectively support the parts even when embodied in a wrench of the open jaw type as illustrated. In this embodiment the head is provided with an end opening 26 so that it may be passed over the work and engaged with the side opening 2! of the jaw. When not under load the jaw can be easily turned to line up its opening with the opening in the head. My improved wrench may be made comparatively light and at the same time is capable of withstanding heavy loads. The side plates form effective reinforcing elements for the wrench head and the bolts or screws are arranged to effectively sustain the load at the ends of the head member forks. My improved wrench is adapted for a wide variet of uses and is very convenient to use.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a high y practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain modifications or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A ratchet wrench comprising a forked head body member provided with a handle and having a cylindrically curved jaw opening therein, the wall of which is provided with inwardly opening angularly spaced notch-like ratchet clutch member recesses having inclined bottoms, side plates secured to the sides of said head body member with their inner edges in overlapping -3= relation to the inner edge thereof, said side plates having opposed recesses in their inner sides, a wrench jaw shouldered to provide a central peripheral portion disposed between said side plates, said central portion having a series of relatively shallow V-shaped axially disposed peripheral teeth extending throughout the periphery thereof, said jaw being of a diameter approximating but substantially less than the diameter of the opening in said body head member, the

shoulders of the jaw member being spaced from the inner edges of the said side plates, a plurality of wedge shaped ratchet clutch members arranged in said recesses in slidably supported relation to the inclined bottoms thereof, the recesses being of substantially greater length than the clutch members, the clutch members having relatively shallow V-shaped teeth adapted to mesh with the teeth of said jaw, said clutch members being of a width exceeding the axial thickness of the head body member and projecting into said opposed recesses in said plates, the clutch members having bores in their larger ends, and coil springs having loop-like spring arms extending from their inner coils retainingly engaged in said bores in said clutch members, the outer ends of the springs being seated against adjacent end walls of the clutch member recesses whereby the clutch members are yieldably urged into engagement with the teeth of the jaw and the jaw is normally supported with its teeth out of engagement with the inner peripheral wall of the head body member.

2. A ratchet wrench comprising a forked head body member provided with a handle and having a cylindrically curved jaw opening therein, the wall of which is provided with inwardly opening angularly spaced notch-like clutch member recesses having inclined bottoms, side plates detachably secured to the sides of said head body member with their inner edges in overlapping relation to the inner edge thereof, said side plates having opposed recesses in their inner sides, a wrench jaw shouldered to provide a central peripheral portion disposed between said side plates, said central portion having a series of relatively shallow V-shaped axially disposed peripheral teeth, a plurality of Wedge shaped ratchet clutch members arranged in said recesses in slidably supported relation to the inclined bottoms thereof, the clutch members having relatively shallow V-shaped teeth adapted to mesh with the teeth of said jaw, said clutch members being of a width exceeding the axial thickness of the head body member, the clutch members projecting into said opposed recesses in said plates, the clutch members having bores in their larger ends, and coil springs having loop-like spring arms extending from their inner coils retainingly engaged in said bores in said clutch members, the outer ends of the springs being seated against adjacent end Walls of the clutch member recesses whereby the clutch members are yieldably urged into engagement with the teeth of the jaw.

3. A ratchet wrench comprising a forked head body member provided with a handle and having a cylindrically curved jaw opening therein, the wall of which is provided with inwardly opening l angularly spaced notch-like clutch member recesses having inclined bottoms, side plates detachably secured to the sides of said head body member with their inner edges in overlapping relation to the inner edge thereof, said side plates having opposed recesses in their inner sides, a wrench jaw shouldered to provide a central peripheral portion disposed between said side plates, said central portion having a series of relatively shallow axially disposed peripheral teeth, a plurality of wedge shaped ratchet clutch members arranged in said recesses in slidably supported relation to the inclined bottoms thereof, the clutch members having relatively shallow teeth adapted to mesh with the teeth of said jaw, said clutch members being of a width exceeding the axial thickness of the head body member, the clutch members projecting into said opposed recesses in said plates, and springs acting to urge the clutch members to engaging po sition.

PHILIP P. HALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,060,185 Hill Apr. 29, 1913 1,388,836 Ripsch et al Aug. 23, 1921 2,193,984 Rhinevault Mar. 19, 1940 2,376,575 Cronan May 22, 1945 2,430,480 Pugh Nov. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 132,668 Switzerland July 1, 1929 334,249 Italy Jan. 23, 1936 

